I didn't know how to react at that point. I had no clue on what to do. All I knew was two Yaomo were now staring straight at me inside of a public transport.
Why were they both only facing me?
Actually, the fact that I could see them outside on what was supposed to be a perfect afternoon that would have let me continue my life, that fact made me feel something fleeting from me.
The fact that I am now seeing these 'things' just after Mr Ash introduced me to them two days ago, it made me realise one thing that I really hoped against. That perhaps, the life I have known up till now would inevitably change forever.
The smaller one screeched at me like it had lost its temper. That sudden sound left me shuddering down to my bones. There was nowhere to run to in here so whatever my fate was, I was making my peace with it already as they were too close for me to really do anything.
It then plucked that seater from its bolts to the bus and flung it to the side, totally crushing the unfortunate person who had been sitting there and leaving nothing between me and it.
Blood splattered everywhere, even on me and I wanted to scream but then, I noticed that no one else reacted to what it was that had just happened. I glanced around in a moment. The five remaining people aboard sat where they were, completely complacent. I immediately knew something was wrong with them as well.
I looked back at my body, blood droppings here and there on my clothes. At that point, I fully realised that I would actually die if I remained dormant. I would probably get crushed as well and have my body parts strewn across the bus's interior.
A surge quickly welled up in me and the rationalisation, that I had to survive no matter what filled my consciousness with a rush that I couldn't explain.
It was natural, that I had to attempt all I could to survive. It was instinct. And the rush I was feeling; it was calm, clearing my mind of the confusion and panic that plagued me just earlier. It was something I never thought I was capable of in a situation like this.
So when it attempted to impale me, I threw myself backwards evading the smaller ones trunk- like limb that thrust through the metal seat on which I sat.
I flipped over and landed on the seat behind me. It then plucked that seat forcefully from its bolts as well and flung them out of the bus, tearing through the metal windows.
I should have been awestruck but now, I directed everything I had towards surviving. At the moment, I really couldn't think much of any other thing, including the fact that some ridiculously strong, ominous creatures were the ones seeking to kill me for no reason I could think of.
Swiftly, I pushed myself up and ran further backwards, away from them. The bigger, slender creature merely stood there and had done nothing so far.
So all of the attacks I had avoided were from the smaller, tenacious ghoul. I wondered just what that one would be capable of and if I could even evade it since it looked stronger than the smaller one.
I kept moving away from them until I fell onto one of the other passengers. He simply stared into the open, as in a vegetative state. I didn't think much about that either. I created as much distance as I could before the tenacious ghoul would continue.
However, it now moved fully at me. Hopping on one of the seats, it leaned backwards for a brief moment and then jolted forward, sending its flexible arms at me at a really high speed. But then, I could see it and manage to evade it. Yet, it didn't stop. It kept on projecting its limbs and I had to keep evading, barely keeping up, especially as the bus seats made it much more difficult.
And by an unfortunate turn, the woman behind would be quite unlucky. Since she was in the way, at one time, both of its arms shot through and shredded her into pieces.
Another gory sight.
For some strange reason again, I still couldn't think much about it. The surge I was feeling within myself had my mind clear as the sky and I remained calm.
But then, at this point, there was nowhere to run to and I couldn't keep this up forever. They totally blocked me off, cornering me to the back of the bus.
Maybe this was actually it. All those moves I had pulled now, all in order to keep me alive, were probably going to the dust.
It shot at me again and I dodged, dropping to the floor and propelling myself up again. The only way I could escape now was to somehow get past them. But then, how possible was that?
Once again, it shot its trunk like hands at me which extended like rubber from where it was. I threw myself leftwards where the man I had fallen on earlier was.
Then another trunk shot at me. I dodged, falling back to the floor and pulling the man with me. If I hadn't, he would have gotten torn to pieces as well.
At this point, it seemed like it was just toying with me.
I panted from all the close calls I had just dodged. Looking at the two ghouls before me, I knew it would be impossible to actually get past them.
It was just not possible. I was going to die there for some freakish reason and although I still had those impulses pushing me to remain alive for as long as I possibly could, I had begun to accept that reality. My mental fortitude slacked at that moment and my body relaxed a bit.
So, when it shot at me again, I couldn't move in time.
I let out a suppressed, painful yell as I felt the side of my abdomen get thrust through. I fell to the side, on a seat and slid down to the floor of the bus. The pain resonated through my body and looking at it, I could tell that it was a very critical injury. I could die from just the blood loss at this rate.
"Fuuu, fuuu" I panted and struggled to push myself back, still trying to hold on to life.
The smaller ghoul screeched loudly and then got down from the seat it had been on. It began advancing towards me steadily. I struggled even more.
It continued to near me until it got close enough.
'Ah' I thought to myself. 'Maybe I should have followed Dani to her home that day. At least, I could have done something with her worth all that crap at Mr Pushc's office'
Then, its long limb wrapped itself around my neck and squeezed tightly, cutting off my air supply. It squeezed so tight that I could feel blood pressure in my head rise like it was going to pop out any second. And as I struggled, I could also feel my energy drain out as well. It all drained out till I could barely resist.
It was then those thoughts and images began to flash in my mind. Thoughts about the things I had planned to do, the things I already had in motion. And images of the recent things I had already done.
I could remember certain things from my childhood that I wouldn't be able to remember under normal circumstances. They all crossed my mind at once in a flash. Like pictures spread out for me to see.
Pictures of me, my elder siblings and our parents. The memories I had with them. My early life and all the fortunate and unfortunate things that had happened to me. All I had achieved and the regrets I hadn't tended to.
Perhaps I should have spent more time with Dani. She was the most beautiful woman I had ever seen. I didn't know why, but it was one of my biggest regrets.
And then, there was what had happened during my late childhood years also. I had tried to forget it but it flashed through my head again. This suffocating feeling; I had experienced it before. That one time where I nearly drowned in that lagoon back in our former town.